Why is it not wrong to call religous "spouses of Christ"?

[MartyMcFly]

I have a friend who is convinced that the imagery that the Church uses that compares a consecrated person’s (nuns, monks, other religious) commitment to a “marriage to Christ” is offensive, sacrilegious, and sick. (Specifically regarding the practice of nuns wearing rings on their wedding fingers after vows, or calling themselves "spouses of Christ).

Their reasoning is that the marriage relationship is a romantic relationship that also involves sex. So it is wrong and even sacrilegious to call a nun’s commitment a “marriage to God” or a “marriage to Christ”

How would one respond to this person?

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

One who consecrates his or her life to Christ through the vows of religion cuts to the chase. They go directly to the goal of marriage which is union with Christ who is the bridegroom of the Church. Such makes perfect sense when one understands what Christian marriage actually is. Far from sacrilegious, such consecration is even more sacred than marriage because of its greater proximity to that divine union.

I suggest that you get the book: “Good News About Sex and Marriage” by Christopher West. It is available through shop.catholic.com or by phone: 888 291 8000. Read it and then share it with your friend.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.